Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Final Trial—Rise to the Top
Luc was tired.
Mentally. Physically. Spiritually.
He survived the first fight, but before he could even breathe, Vale hit them with—
"We're increasing the difficulty for your next trial."
Luc wanted to die. Again.
Mira fist-pumped. "Hell yeah! Bring it on!"
Eve frowned. "This fast? What's the reason?"
Vale smirked. "Because we're deciding if you belong in the top class."
Luc's brain screeched to a stop.
Wait. Top class?!
No. No, no, no. He didn't want that! That sounded like more work, more attention, and more problems!
Before he could protest, the ground rumbled.
A second iron gate slid open.
A new monster stepped forward—bigger, stronger, and definitely not "low-level."
Luc felt his soul leave his body. We're dead.
---
The Final Opponent: The Revenant Knight
The arena darkened.
From the shadows, a towering figure emerged.
A Revenant Knight.
Eight feet tall. Armor black as night. A cursed greatsword dragging across the ground.
Its helm was empty, hollow—no head, no face, just darkness inside.
Luc immediately hated everything about it.
Mira whistled. "Ohhh, now that's a fight!"
Eve tensed. "That thing is leagues above a Wraith Hound."
Luc gulped. Yeah. No shit.
Riku yawned. "So, uh… who's tanking that thing?"
The Revenant lifted its sword.
The moment it moved—
—Luc's body screamed, MOVE!
---
The Battle
The Revenant swung.
The force alone shattered the ground.
Luc barely dodged, rolling to the side. "Holy—WHAT KIND OF LOW-LEVEL TEST IS THIS?!"
Mira laughed. "No idea, but I LOVE IT!"
She rushed forward, throwing a Spirit Bomb.
BOOM!
The explosion engulfed the knight.
Luc coughed. "Did we get it—?"
The smoke cleared.
The Revenant Knight was still standing.
Luc paled. Nope. They did not get it.
---
Eve's Plan
Eve gritted her teeth. "That armor is absorbing everything."
Luc's mind raced. "Then we break the armor!"
Eve nodded. "Mira, keep attacking. Riku, be ready. Luc…" She paused. "You find the weak point."
Luc blinked. "…Why me?"
Eve's eyes narrowed. "Because you knew about the Wraith Hound's weakness."
Luc froze. Crap. She was still suspicious.
But no time to argue—
The Revenant charged.
---
Luc's Discovery
Luc ran, dodging swings as Mira bombarded it with explosions.
The knight tanked everything. Unfazed.
Luc's brain worked overtime. Think. Think!
Then he saw it.
For a split second, as the Revenant lifted its sword—
The back of its knee. A faint red glow.
Luc's eyes widened. That's it!
"ITS KNEE! HIT THE BACK OF ITS KNEE!"
---
The Finishing Move
Eve didn't hesitate.
She slammed a Holy Sigil onto the ground—golden chains erupted, binding the Revenant's arms.
"Riku!" she shouted.
Riku sighed, cracking his knuckles. "Guess I should try now, huh?"
He focused. His aura condensed into a blade—
—and he vanished.
In a blink, he was behind the Revenant.
SLASH.
A clean, precise cut to the back of the knee.
The Revenant let out a distorted, hollow scream—
—and collapsed.
---
They Did It
Silence.
Luc stood there, panting. Holy shit. They actually did it.
Mira whooped. "That was AWESOME!"
Eve let out a breath. "It's over."
Riku dusted off his uniform. "That was fun."
Luc?
Luc sat on the ground, ready to cry.
Never again.
---
Top Class
Vale strolled over, clapping.
"Impressive," he said. "You've all passed."
Luc groaned. "Great. Can I go home now?"
Vale smirked. "Not yet. Congratulations. You're all officially in the top class."
Luc choked. NO.
Mira grinned. "Hell yeah!"
Eve smirked at Luc. "Guess you can't slack off now."
Luc stared at the ceiling. Why me?
To Be Continued...